2176 —הקמת תלמוד תורה ולימוד אישי בתורת חב"ד

B"H, 24 Tammuz, 5713.

Brooklyn.

Havavach iy"a nu"n engaged in tzt"z Moreinu Harav Shmuel Tzvi Eidelkopf

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to receive your letter from the 17th of Tammuz (may it soon be transformed to joy and gladness), in which you write that through the efforts of Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n engaged in tzt"z Moreinu Harav Yonah Eidelkopf, a Talmud Torah has been established in your growing city. According to your knowledge as a local resident, there are many prospects for the development of this Talmud Torah with honor and splendor, as there are enough parents and activists interested in education with fear of Heaven, and also sufficient funds will not be lacking.

It seems from your letter that all of the above is currently only potential and needs to be brought into actuality. As our Sages say: 'The reader of the letter should be its agent.' Surely you will strive with the greatest energy and involve your friends and acquaintances so that all of this will come from potential into action. Certainly then there will also not be lacking G‑d-fearing teachers who will take on the main work—educating boys and girls in the spirit of Yisrael Saba. Of course, it is best if you write about fulfilling all these matters with appropriate details.

You conclude your letter stating that you need a teacher, etc. First and foremost, arrange for the teacher who is already present in an appropriate manner; this itself will serve as an attraction for additional teachers.

At the beginning of your letter you write that your father was attached to Chabad in his youth and was also one of the students at the Chabad yeshiva in Chevron. Therefore, it is surprising that you do not specify about your own fixed times for study in Chabad teachings. If nowadays it is an obligatory mitzvah—and an absolute obligation—for every Jew, how much more so for 'the son who is a leg of his father,' who was among Chabad chassidim. There is no need to elaborate further on this.

Summary

The Rebbe urges both communal action—developing Jewish education institutions—and personal spiritual growth through regular study of Chabad teachings, especially for those with a family legacy in Chabad.